Assistant Kitchen Manager

Base Compensation

$60,500 to $70,500 annually

Hourly salary pay structure

Overview

We are seeking an Assistant Kitchen Manager to support heart of house operations at a high volume, quality driven restaurant in La Jolla. This role is designed as an entry point into restaurant management and is primarily focused on leading the kitchen team, supporting daily execution, and building strong fundamentals in leadership and operations.

This is a hands on position for someone who enjoys being on the line, coaching cooks, and maintaining consistency during busy service periods while continuing to grow into a long term management role.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership and Execution

• Lead the heart of house team during prep and service

• Ensure consistent food quality, recipe execution, and portion control

• Maintain speed, organization, and cleanliness in a fast paced kitchen

• Lead by example and remain active on the floor and line

Training and Team Development

• Train and coach kitchen team members on standards and procedures

• Support onboarding of new hires and reinforce expectations

• Provide real time feedback and hands on coaching

• Help build accountability, confidence, and teamwork in the kitchen

Food Safety and Sanitation

• Ensure food safety, cleanliness, and sanitation standards are met

• Maintain proper labeling, storage, and temperature controls

• Enforce safe work practices and kitchen organization

• Support health department compliance and internal standards

Inventory and Cost Awareness

• Assist with inventory counts, ordering, and receiving

• Monitor waste, prep levels, and product handling

• Support food cost control through proper execution and communication

Operational Support

• Partner with senior kitchen leadership on daily operations

• Help manage prep plans, station readiness, and service flow

• Assist with BOH scheduling and shift coverage as needed

• Communicate effectively with front of house leadership

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of supervisory and or kitchen leadership experience

• Experience in high volume or scratch kitchen environments preferred

• Strong understanding of BOH operations and food safety

• Ability to lead teams in a fast paced environment

• Strong communication and problem solving skills

• Desire to grow into a long term kitchen or restaurant management role

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Hands on and comfortable working on the line

• Calm and steady during high volume service

• Positive leadership style with a team first mindset

• Detail oriented and consistent with standards

• Motivated to learn and grow into a higher level management role